Having practical mechanisms in place eg if a student wants to move to a different hall
of residence.
To feel believed and respected.
To be provided with regular updates once have reported to university/students’
union/police.
Well-trained staff.
Clear referral pathways.
It is also clear that the above considerations are in line with the factors that have been raised
in the evidence for responding to reports of violence against women and sexual harassment,
suggesting that there are commonalities in the approach.
The Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU) input highlighted the transgender equality report
produced by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee.106 In relation to the
higher and further education sectors, the Committee observed that levels of bullying and
harassment experienced by trans students ‘are unacceptable’. They also welcomed an offer
from the minister for skills to raise this issue with university vice-chancellors and discuss
whether enough is being done when complaints are made. The Committee recommended
that government should ensure that all further education and university staff receive gender
identity awareness training and that institutions should proactively promote trans
equality.107
The ECU also highlighted the conclusions of the submission made by the University of
Sussex’s Hate Crime Unit (SHCU) to the Women and Equalities Committee. As the NUS
research found, their findings suggest that trans people are more likely than non-trans LGB
people to have been a direct or indirect victim of hate crime involving physical assaults,
physical assaults with weapons, verbal abuse and online abuse. SHCU’s evidence suggests
that trans people ‘…are doubly victimised and affected, above and beyond other commonly
stigmatised and harassed groups.’108 While this research is not based on students alone, the
SHCU evidence is the most up to date on the effects on trans and LGB people experiencing
hate crime.
A National LGBT Hate Crime Framework Group has been set up by LGBT Consortium109 to
map the range and diversity of LGBT Hate Crime service delivery across the UK. This aims to
develop a common programme to increase the overall opportunities for LGBT people to
report homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crime, focusing on existing services to do
so.110 This could provide opportunities for universities to link up with local and regional
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm
108 SHCU submission to Women and Equalities Committee available at
http://data.parliament.uk/WrittenEvidence/CommitteeEvidence.svc/EvidenceDocument/Women per
cent20and per cent20Equalities/Transgender per cent20Equality/written/19415.html
109 LGBT Consortium is a national membership organisation focusing on the development and support of LGBT
groups, projects and organisations.
110 http://www.lgbthatecrime.org.uk/#project-overview
106
107
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